Cork's Rob Downey nets critical goal as St Nicks surge past Kinsale and into county semi-final
St Nicks captain Eoghan Varian, referee Alan Hourihan and Kinsale captain Niall McCarthy before Saturday's Cork Premier JFC quarter-final at Shanbally. Pic: JJ Hurley.
2025 finalists St Nick’s deservedly booked their place in the Cork Premier JFC semi-finals following a terrific second half display against Kinsale that saw the northsiders come from eight points down to win a fiery contest in Shanbally.
A goal from Cork hurler Rob Downey on the stroke of half-time and an unusual finish from substitute Danny Morris midway through the second period were vital as Robert Brosnan’s ensured their place in the semi-finals - where they will take on Canovee.
Milstreet battle Inniscarra tomorrow in the other quarter-final for a chance to play Cobh in the penultimate phase of the competition.
Nicks started the livelier with two quick fire frees from Jack O’Sullivan to get them up and running but Kinsale quickly found their feet.
A point from Gearóid Finn built some confidence before Nicks’ captain Eoghan Varian pulled down Michael Murphy in the small square. Referee Alan Hourihan could do nothing but award the penalty which Finn dispatched with aplomb. Varian received a black card for his offence.
This had Kinsale on the ascendency. Vice captain James Murphy, Gearóid Kearney and Brian Coughlan (two pointer) contributed to give the Carrigdhoun men some breathing space before the quarter-hour mark (1-5 to 0-2).
Conor McCarthy curled one over in the 17th minute to momentarily reel Kinsale in but Kevin Cahill’s charges stitched three more scores together in a seven minute period, Brian Coughlan pointing from the dead ball before Michael Murphy scored two on the bounce.
By now Kinsale had a stranglehold on their opponents. On the stroke of half time Murphy found himself clean through on goal with a chance to really hurt Nicks but Dave Dunlea punched the ball from his grasp at the last second.
With the short whistle approaching things were looking rosy for Kinsale, eight points to the good and seemingly coasting, but Nicks never go quietly. Jack O’Sullivan added to his tally with a point on 29 minutes and then came the turning point - that green flag courtesy of Rob Downey. The midfielder powered through a three-man Kinsale barricade before rifling one low in the corner of the net. All of a sudden, game on.
Much like Nicks in the first half, Kinsale started the second period stronger, posting two early scores thanks to James Murphy and Gearoid Kearney. The tides turned rather quickly though, and before long Nicks were firing on all cylinders. Half-back Zach Lynch’s well taken score began a five-point run for Nicks that turned momentum ass over kettle.
Conor McCarthy pointed well from the right after leaving David O’Leary for dead, Jack O’Sullivan followed that with another accurate free 40 seconds later.
Downey supplied Rhys Dunne with a beautiful lobbed pass in space but Dunne’s shot careened off the frame of the goal. Seconds later Eoin Downey had a shot saved brilliantly by Stephen O’Neill who got down low to guide the ball wide of the posts.
It was all Nicks at this stage in the contest, and two massive two-pointers from Eoin Downey and McCarthy put Nicks ahead for the first time - they never looked back.
Michael Murphy did draw his side level again in the 53rd minute but the Kinsale effort hit a massive speed bump two minutes later when Nicks sub Danny Morris’ looping goal bound effort bizarrely went uncontested to meander its merry way to the Kinsale net.
A Rob Downey free and towering Dean Brosnan two-pointer followed for Nicks and that put them out of reach despite two late points consolation from Kinsale. They'll be regretting losing the whip hand in the second half, where they only registered five points - at one stage going 20 minutes without a point.
R Downey 1-1, D Morris 1-0, J O’Sullivan 0-4 (3f), C McCarthy 0-4 (1tp), D Brosnan 0-2 (1tp), E Downey 0-2 (1tp), Z Lynch 0-1.
G Finn 1-1, M Murphy 0-4, B Coughlan 0-3 (1tp), J Murphy, G Kearney 0-2 each, R O’Brien 0-1.
R Cronin; D Dunlea, O O’Connell, C Horgan; F O’Driscoll, E Varian (captain), Z Lynch; R Downey, E Downey; R Dunne, J Morrissey, L Quilligan; J O’Sullivan, K Kelleher, C McCarthy.
: D Morris for K Kelleher (35), S Horgan for J Morriseey (43), D Brosnan for R Dunne (48), R Long for L Quilligan (56), B Heffernan for C McCarthy (60).
: S O’Neill; D O’Leary, K O’Callaghan, N Ryan; J Byrne, N McCarthy (captain), C Fitzpatrick; B O’Neill, J Murphy; C Fitzpatrick, G Finn, G Kearney; M Murphy, B Coughlan, J O’Brien.
: D Looney for B Coughlan (49), L Kirwan for J Byrne (49), R O’Brien for J O’Brien (58).
: Alan Hourihan (Aghinagh).
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